Posts Tagged ‘California auctions

If you have ever attended California auctions, you have surely noticed a lot of collectible penny coins. There are a number of these that have considerable value and are popular among those who are familiar with coin collecting. Knowing more about some of the most popular penny coins will give you a place to start while you learn more about collecting this type of coin.

1856 Flying Eagle Coin

If you are into this coin, you will have to work hard to secure one since only 2,000 were made, making it difficult to find this penny coin. If you are lucky enough to come across this coin and the condition is excellent, you may fetch yourself as much as $85,000 for a single coin. While there are a number of situations in which people pay more, the average selling price for this coin was around $7,000 in 2015.

1943 Copper Penny

Someone sold one of these coins in 2010 and they earned a whopping $1.7 million for it. During this year, the coins were supposed to be composed of steel, but some slipped through being minted of a copper-alloy. This mistake could earn you a large sum of cash today if you are lucky enough to come upon one.

1944 Steel Penny

Coin experts say that this penny was minted by mistake and this mistake could earn you a major profit today. In fact, some of these are selling for as much as $100,000 when the coin is in excellent condition. The error that was made when this coin was produced was in the material. At this time, the pennies should have been made of copper, but a hopper error resulted in some pennies being made of steel, which was the wrong material.

1969-S Double Die Obverse

If you take a penny from your change wallet or jar, you can see that each side is different. You have a heads side and a tails side. This is what was supposed to be printed on the pennies that were minted during this time; however, an error resulted in some 1969 pennies having either heads or tails on both sides of the coin. Some of these coins have sold for as much as $28,200. However, in order for your penny to be one that gets that type of sale price, it has to have the “S,” and this can be seen with a magnifying glass.

You now have more information about collectible penny coins and some of the most popular ones that are sometimes found at California auctions. You can use this information as a springboard for learning more about coin collecting, especially some of the most popular pennies that people collect.

When it comes to art auctioneers, they give you a chance to find an array of cool pieces of art from artists all over the world. One of the artists you might find work from includes Percy Gray. This artist has a very unique style and once you are familiar with his work, it is not hard to easily spot other pieces that he has created. Knowing more about some of his best work makes it easier for collectors to choose the ones that will best fit into their collection.

California Oak

Percy Gray “Path Under an Oak Tree, 1912”

This is a painting where the primary focus is on a large oak tree in California. It was done using watercolors, so it has a very real feel to it. In fact, if you look at it from a distance, you might accidentally mistake it for an actual photograph of a tree. It uses mostly a variety of different greens to accomplish the very natural look of the scenery. There are some splashes of bright colors to help draw your eye to the piece before you get to notice what the actual focal point of it is. While there are tons of paintings that have a large tree as the focus, this is one that has an almost eerie feel to it, making it more unique than the others.

California Eucalyptus

Percy Gray “Eucalyptus Trees”

If oak trees are not your thing, you might want to look at this painting that features a different type of tree. This painting looks and feels a lot more open than California Oak. However, it also has that same almost dark feel as the other painting. The day appears to be mostly cloudy, but the trees remain the focus of the painting. They are accentuated by other natural elements, such as smaller bushes and trees and clouds that look incredibly realistic.

Poppies and Eucalyptus

While this one still has that almost eerie edge to it too, it also appears a bit brighter than the other two paintings that are discussed here. This looks like more of a fall season, since there is a lot of orange and yellow colors incorporated into it. It also has both trees and flowers that are working to best balance each other.

You can see that there are a number of Percy Gray paintings that you’ll want to learn more about. While these are some of the most popular, there are many other options for you to explore. Make sure to expand your horizons and make it a point to check out all of his work to get a more complete view of the talents that this artist brought to the world.

When you are looking at California auctions, make sure to check out the collectible penny coins that might be available. There are so many options, so make sure to educate yourself about the different years and about the ones that might be especially valuable. However, no matter the ones that you choose, there are some benefits associated with collecting this type of coin. Once you know what these are, you will be ready to engage in this hobby on a more frequent basis.

United States $2 1/2 Gold Coin, 1911-D, AU

Enjoy Coins that Are Rare

When people collect penny coins, one of the most exciting parts of the process is finding those unicorns that are incredibly rare. Not only will this give you some major satisfaction, but it gives you the chance to have something that few other people have. If you find the right rare coins, the worth could also set you up for life in terms of the financial aspect.

Challenge Yourself to Find the Best Collectible Penny Coins

US 1909 S VDB Penny

It is exciting to collect penny coins and it is a constant challenge to look for those that you do not already have. For some people, collecting these coins is almost like a sport. You will find that as you start to find those on your in search of list that the act of continuing your search almost feels like a modern-day treasure hunt.

Earn Some Money on the Side

One of the biggest benefits to collecting these types of coins is to make some money. While not all of the pennies are worth big bucks, some of them are. However, even if the coins that you get are not worth big money when you get them, many of them will acquire value over time. It is a good idea to pick up those that you can get for a good price that have a high likelihood of increasing in value. This can help you to essentially invest for the future.

Learn More About Coins and Other Aspects of Society

All of the penny coins that are available have a unique story behind them that you can learn more about. This allows you to learn more about the history of the coin, as well as about things like the associated society, culture and politics as they relate to the coins.

You can see that collectible penny coins are a great choice for those who enjoy collecting coins and art. You now know why this hobby is beneficial and you know that California auctions are a great place to find these types of items. Just make sure that you are picking up the coins that best meet the direction of your collecting portfolio.

There comes a point at the end of the year, when people start to clean their homes and rid themselves of the clutter that has built up. While there is great satisfaction in having a clean and clear home, this can also be a risky time of year for the unknowing victims of the purge. There are many cases of people throwing extremely valuable items into the trash. Special or unique items that could have sold for thousands at California auctions, ends up on the curb to fall apart in the rain or get carried off by someone else. Most of the time, this goes by unnoticed, but occasionally, someone will find themselves antique shopping and realize that they $10,000 dining room table that they are looking at is the same one that they threw away last year. This can be heart-breaking and embarrassing as it is really represents a missed opportunity that was lost in the end of the year cleaning.

Don’t Throw Out Something Of Extraordinary Value

Although people want to enjoy a clean home, it is very important to carefully consider every item before it is tossed to the wayside. Many people would be shocked to discover that the old, ‘tacky’ painting in the living room is actually a classic and valuable painting from a respected artist. The items that are of extreme value are not always recognizable to every person. Particularly when something has been sitting around for a long time, people tend to lose their regard for it and begin to perceive it as clutter. California auctions are packed with items that are extremely valuable, but for many of them, the original owner will never see a dime because they decided to throw it away or sell it for a few dollars at last year’s garage sale.

It is not always the owner’s fault, but sometimes a careless wife or ignorant husband will toss something away while they are cleaning, only to discover their mistake when it is too late. However, this can be avoided if care is taken when getting rid of antique furniture, old paintings, and other odd objects. People have a tendency of taking things at face value, but when their is historic significance or artistic integrity encapsulated in an item, it is not always as obvious to the untrained eye. This is why it can be extremely valuable to bring in an expert on antiquities to look over the items that a person wants to get rid of. It is not necessary to keep the grandfather clock in the hallway, but if it is going to be removed, the owner should at least get the value that it is worth for it.

Discovered at the Free Appraisal Event at Michaan’s Auctions: MAQBOOL FIDA HUSAIN (Indian born worked in England 1915-2011) Nude figure with creature Ink on tissue laid on paper, Sold for $2,242 at Michaan’s Auctions

Artists, artisans, and creators are on a constant lookout for sources of inspiration. They’re searching for the next big idea that will drive them, as well as the spark that will ignite the flame of their ingenuity and creativity. In this vein, they often discover and channel inspiration from the past, from masters who paved the way in many different mediums. One of the most inspiring periods for many artisans is the 17th century.

Inspirational pieces from this period include everything from paintings and drawings, to sculpture and needlework, to clothing and architecture, to textile design, furniture design, and even book design. There are many examples of all of these items on the Internet and in books, but there are places artists can go where they can see these historic objects up close and in person. These places include art and antiques auctions in California.

Inspiration-Gathering at California Auctions: Suggestions

Gathering inspiration is always a personal process, but there are tried-and-true ways to do it that have worked consistently for many artists and artisans. The number one rule that applies to inspiration-gathering, however, is that there are no rules. There is no limit to where an idea may come from because inspiration is everywhere.

The Value of In-Person Viewing

At auction houses, items up for sale may be displayed in a main gallery or showroom up to the point of sale. This gives people a chance to view and inspect them before bidding, but it also affords artisans and creatives a unique opportunity to interact with rare, historic, or valuable pieces from the past in person. Viewing something in real life is far different from looking at a picture of it on the web or in a book, and a whole new cache of ideas may spring from seeing an art piece or historic item in 3D.

Spanish Baroque Style Trestle Table with Iron Stretchers

Questions to Ask to Generate New Ideas

With these things in mind, collecting inspiration depends on what intrigues a particular person, not to mention what stands out to them about an object, situation, person, place, or idea. However, some people need a push to get them thinking in a way that generates new concepts. Here are some thoughts that may be helpful when pursuing the muse at auction houses:

What story does the piece depict? Are there multiple possible stories?

Look at the evidence of wear on the item, if any. Note its condition. What does this say about the usefulness of the piece? Try to imagine what kind of people would have used it, and in what ways.

Think about the value of the piece. If it is a painting or art object, why is it valuable? If it is a furniture piece or other “useful” item, why is it so treasured today?

Note the colors in or on the piece. How are they related — are they primary or secondary colors, for instance? Do they evoke nature? Think about why the artist or artisan chose them.

Is there a recurring pattern or motif on the object? What is it?

These questions are relevant when viewing any item or art piece for inspiration, not just 17th century or antique pieces. With the right mindset, inspiration can be drawn from any decade.